On Episode 14 of The SmartyPlants Podcast, we’re talking about Food Cravings!

You know the feeling that hits you out of nowhere and you can’t think of anything else except…….chocolate.  90% of people experience food cravings!

Judi and Phil talk about their own food cravings—Judi is a salty crunchy person and Phill’s cravings really set in after dinner. They talk about their childhood favorites—buttered popcorn, Chex mix and a giant bin full of candy—and how those things all play a role in what they crave today.

Did you know that humans are actually hard-wired to crave foods that are higher in calories and contain lots of sugar and oil? That’s why you can’t just eat one potato chip. When you’re doing something pleasurable, your brain releases a large amount of dopamine. You feel good and you seek more of that feeling. Our brains want more, more, more!

Do you know how much sugar is in soda? Get ready to have your mind blown! 

They discuss other reasons we have cravings—hormones, habit, stress and emotional reasons and what to do to curb them.  

So tune-in, and kick those cravings to the curb! Or, lean into them gently. 

​Links

SmartyPlants Website: https://smartyplants.org/ 

SmartyPlants 28 Day Kickstart Info: https://smartyplants.org/28-day-kickstart 

SmartyPlants Weekly Meal plan Info: https://smartyplants.org/weekly-meal-plan 

Follow us on social media

SmartyPlants Private facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smartyplants.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartyplantsorg/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SmartyPlants

Twitter: https://twitter.com/smartyplantsorg

Episode 13 of The SmartyPlants Podcast—A Trip to The Grocery Store.

When you are new to eating plant-based, your first trip to the grocery can be daunting. We get it! So, in this episode, Judi and Phill take us on a trip to the grocery store! 

First, they talk a little bit about farmer’s markets and why they feel these are great places to pick up your produce—you’ll be supporting your farmers, supporting your body, and supporting your planet. All great things!

Then, they hit the grocery store. They break down the entire produce section and explain how we should spend most of our time here and why eating the rainbow is so important in keeping us healthy. 

They explain packaging:

Package buzzwords that scream out from the front of the package like: “Healthy”, “All-Natural”, and “Multi-Grain”, which are meant to draw us in and entice us to buy products.

Reading Labels—understanding the ingredients list and nutrition labels once and for all.

They also walk us through each section of the grocery store and give suggestions on all of the body nourishing plant food that we can be filling our carts with.

So, tune-in because after listening, you’ll be all set to hit the grocery store and navigate it like a plant-based rockstar!

--Links--

Website: SmartyPlants: https://smartyplants.org/ 

SmartyPlants 28 Day Kickstart Info: https://smartyplants.org/28-day-kickstart 

SmartyPlants Weekly Meal plan Info: https://smartyplants.org/weekly-meal-plan 

Follow us on social media

SmartyPlants Private facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smartyplants.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartyplantsorg/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SmartyPlants

Twitter: https://twitter.com/smartyplantsorg   

On Episode 12 of The SmartyPlants Podcast—Judi talks with Chef AJ!  A former comedian, Chef AJ is a plant-based chef, a culinary instructor, and a public speaker.  She is the author of the book Unprocessed: How to Achieve Vibrant Health and Your Ideal Weight, which chronicles her journey from an obese junk-food vegan faced to learning how to create foods that nourish and heal the body.  She is also the author of the book The Secrets to Ultimate Weight Loss:  A Revolutionary Approach to Conquer Cravings, Overcome Food Addiction and Lose Weight Without Going Hungry, and co-author of the book Own Your Health-how to live long & avoid chronic disease. She was the host of the television series Healthy Living with CHEF AJ which airs on Foody TV.  She is also the creator of the Ultimate Weight Loss Program, which has helped hundreds of people achieve the health and the body that they deserve, and is proud to say that her IQ is higher than her cholesterol.

On this episode of The SmartyPlants podcast, Chef AJ tells us how she became vegan for ethical reasons at the age of 17, 44 years ago, but struggled with obesity for decades, with food addictions to processed foods, and refined sugar, until she shifted her diet towards complex carbs and a whole-food, plant-based diet.

This episode is a must if you struggle with food addiction. Chef AJ tells us how sugar, salt, flour, alcohol are all addictive. How do you know if you have a problem with a particular type of food or drink? Chef AJ reads 10 questions from her book that you can ask yourself—am I addicted? They dive deep into a discussion on alcohol and she actually has Judi questioning her own alcohol consumption. 

She busts the myth that carbs make you fat! It’s the company that they keep-butter, bacon bits, cheese–that makes them bad for us. What food is the most slimming food you can eat? Potatoes! Can you believe it?

They talk about a caloric density approach to losing weight and how you can eat much more volume of foods that have low calorie density. People like high calorie foods because the more calorie dense they are, the more dopamine is released in our brains.

And, we get a sneak peek into what a typical day of eating looks like for her.

So, tune-in because this is another great episode!

Where can you find Chef AJ?

On her website: https://www.chefaj.com

Chef AJ does a live show on YouTube everyday! Check out her show, Chef AJ LIVE: https://www.youtube.com/c/CHEFAJ

Instagram: https://instagram.com/therealchefaj

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chef.aj1

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/therealchefaj.com

You can find her 3 books here: 

The Secrets to Ultimate Weight Loss https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07G1BL59Y

Unprocessed https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006IBVXBU

Own Your Health-How to live long and avoid chronic illness https://www.amazon.com/Own-Your-Health-Chronic-Illness

SmartyPlants Links: SmartyPlants Website: https://smartyplants.org/ 

SmartyPlants 28 Day Kickstart Info: https://smartyplants.org/28-day-kickstart    SmartyPlants Weekly Meal plan Info: https://smartyplants.org/weekly-meal-plan 

Follow us on social media SmartyPlants Private facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smartyplants.org 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartyplantsorg/ 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SmartyPlants  Twitter: https://twitter.com/smartyplantsorg

On Episode 11 of The SmartyPlants Podcast—Here Comes Summer-Part 2, Judi and Phill are back with more of their summer update!

Judi tells us about her backyard and all of the planting that is going on this week. She talks about “sleepers, creepers and leapers”--and how things are starting to leap back there!

She tells us about squirrels, chipmunks, blue bird houses and

the bat show going on in her yard every night…yes, bats! 

And, how to identify bird calls—there is an app for that! 

Phill talks about his garden and how it’s coming along, weeding, and actually enjoying nature. And, how to recognize plants with your iphone in just a few clicks! Who knew?!?

He also talks about composting and how the cycles work–what to throw in and what not to.

And, Judi talks a little bit about her August wedding plans—or lack of plans so far! 

So, tune-in because this is another fun one!

Links:

Link the merlin app (for bird calls): https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

Link to how to identify plants with your iphone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llVIauIdWbg

Website: 

SmartyPlants Website: https://smartyplants.org/ 

SmartyPlants 28 Day Kickstart Info: https://smartyplants.org/28-day-kickstart 

SmartyPlants Weekly Meal plan Info: https://smartyplants.org/weekly-meal-plan 

Follow us on social media

SmartyPlants Private facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smartyplants.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartyplantsorg/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SmartyPlants

Twitter: https://twitter.com/smartyplantsorg  

On Episode 10 of The SmartyPlants Podcast, Judi and Phill discuss Here Comes Summer-Part 1.

Judi mentions a super special trip to Puerto Rico that she, her daughter and their friends have planned. She also mentions doing a plant-based travel log for us while she’s there!

They discuss how when you eat a plant-based diet, planning is key and they give us tips on how to make a plant-based diet work for you if you feel that when eating this way there is just “too much cooking”.

If you’re wondering how you’re ever going to live without your favorite foods again, they break down what you’re really craving— is it the actual beef and pork or is it the texture, saltiness and smokiness of the food? Phill compares it to giving up smoking—one day at a time.

Judi tells us that after learning about the dairy industry, it sealed the deal for her. It was now about more than just her health.

Judi talks about paddle boarding this summer and Phill tells some funny vacation stories - a paddle board rescue, a deep-end of the pool escape and a wave runner experience that got a little scary! 

So, tune-in because this is a fun one!

Links

Website:  SmartyPlants Website: https://smartyplants.org/ 

SmartyPlants 28 Day Kickstart Info: https://smartyplants.org/28-day-kickstart 

SmartyPlants Weekly Meal plan Info: https://smartyplants.org/weekly-meal-plan 

Follow us on social media SmartyPlants Private facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smartyplants.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartyplantsorg/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SmartyPlants

Twitter: https://twitter.com/smartyplantsorg   

On Episode 9 of The SmartyPlants Podcast, Judi talks with her good friend Armando Alvarez about his inspiring health journey and how he reversed type 2 diabetes and heart disease by eating a whole food, plant-based diet!

As a young athlete who was focused on eating healthy, he was shocked to find out that he had become a full-blown diabetic with heart disease in his forties. One of his arteries was actually 100% blocked, and the “widow maker” artery was 70% blocked! His doctors told him that bypass surgery was in order and was even told he was a “ticking time bomb”.  

Armando decided to focus on his lifestyle–predominately his diet–instead of surgery, and healed his body with a whole-food, plant-based diet.

He shares with us the 6 words his plant-based doctor told him that completely changed his life and wants us to remember that your diagnosis is not your prognosis!

He is now healthy, happy, and has run 5 half marathons so far and multiple 5K’s! 

He shares tips with us for people new to eating plant-based on how to give your body a winning chance.

His courageous journey is very inspiring, he’s a wealth of information and fun to talk to.

So, tune-in because you won’t want to miss it! 

Links:

Follow Armando’s continuing journey on Instagram: @allheart1959

Website: 

SmartyPlants Website: https://smartyplants.org/ 

SmartyPlants 28 Day Kickstart Info: https://smartyplants.org/28-day-kickstart 

SmartyPlants Weekly Meal plan Info: https://smartyplants.org/weekly-meal-plan 

Follow us on social media

SmartyPlants Private facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smartyplants.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartyplantsorg/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SmartyPlants

Twitter: https://twitter.com/smartyplantsorg   

Episode 8 of The SmartyPlants Podcast, is Part 2 of Judi and Phill’s discussion on Weight Loss. 

This is an important conversation to have because weight is something that many people struggle with and in fact, obesity is epidemic in the US. And, this is not a good thing because it’s linked to chronic disease including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. 

They continue their conversation on oil and why it’s not a great idea to be ingesting it. 

They also talk about:

Fiber—why getting enough of it helps with weight loss.

Exercise—do something you enjoy to make it sustainable.

Why they believe you shouldn’t drink your calories if you’re looking to lose weight—meaning juices and smoothies.

And, lots more!

So, tune-in because this episode is packed with great weight loss info!

--Links--

Products discussed on the show: 

Oculus https://amzn.to/3lFL4r8

Website: 

SmartyPlants Website: https://smartyplants.org/ 

SmartyPlants 28 Day Kickstart Info: https://smartyplants.org/28-day-kickstart 

SmartyPlants Weekly Meal plan Info: https://smartyplants.org/weekly-meal-plan 

Follow us on social media

SmartyPlants Private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smartyplants.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartyplantsorg/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SmartyPlants

Twitter: https://twitter.com/smartyplantsorg  

On Episode 7 of The SmartyPlants Podcast, Judi and Phill discuss Weight Loss. 

Weight is something that many people struggle with and in fact, obesity is epidemic in the US. And, this is not a good thing because it’s linked to chronic disease including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. 

They talk about:

What it means to be overweight and obese

Fad diets—how they are not sustainable and never lead to keeping the weight off

BMI–a formula that calculates whether people are at a healthy weight or not

Calorie Density 

How to eat more and still lose weight! 

Calories IN, calories OUT. How weight loss comes down to simple math! 

They explain how to lose 10 pounds in 5 weeks!

How snacking on even healthy fats (like nuts) can keep the pounds on.

Why no oil? This is a question they are asked all the time so they dive deep into it.

Healthy fats—nuts, seeds and avocados and how to incorporate them into a WFPB diet.

They had so much to say on this topic, that they broke it into 2 episodes!

So, tune-in because this episode is packed with great info and then come back next week for more!

----Links----

Products discussed on the show: 

Oculus:  https://amzn.to/3lFL4r8

BMI (Body Mass Index) calculator https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/english_bmi_calculator/bmi_calculator.html

Website: 

SmartyPlants Website: https://smartyplants.org/ 

SmartyPlants 28 Day Kickstart Info: https://smartyplants.org/28-day-kickstart 

SmartyPlants Weekly Meal plan Info: https://smartyplants.org/weekly-meal-plan 

Follow us on social media

SmartyPlants Private facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smartyplants.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartyplantsorg/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SmartyPlants

Twitter: https://twitter.com/smartyplantsorg